Happy National Nurses Week from AllWays Health Partners

During National Nurses Week we want to thank all nurses for the work they do, especially the nurses working on the front lines. Read on to see how we're celebrating nurses in the midst of a global pandemic. 

Happy National Nurses Week!

People are celebrating National Nurses Week and National Nurses Day throughout the world, showing their support to nurses on the front lines of the pandemic. On May 6, residents of Austin, Texas stepped outside to bang pots and pans, clap, play musical instruments, and otherwise make noise in support of nurses. Area buildings also lit up in blue to show visual support. Southampton General Hospital in southern England received a new work by street artist Banksy titled "Game Changer," depicting a little boy playing with a nurse action figure instead of his superhero ones. The art is described as a "massive boost to morale" for everyone in the hospital. And all over the world, organizations, celebrities, and others celebrated via social media, expressing their gratitude for the work nurses are doing during this time.

2020 Nurses Week perks 

Many restaurants are currently offering free food, big discounts, and other perks to healthcare professionals. This year, many companies are expanding their usual gifts and giveaways to all health-care workers. 

Establishments like Pollo Campero are offering free meals to healthcare workers, Cumberland Farms is offering free coffee, and Dunkin’ Donuts is serving free donuts every Friday in May. Verb Energy is holding their #VerbLove campaign, allowing healthcare workers to text 415-915-8372 for free energy bars. One of the most unique deals comes from El Pollo Loco, which will give a week’s worth of free meals to a randomly chosen nurse nominated by people on social media this week. 

For more information on these and other deals for healthcare workers, check out this list from Thrillest.

The history of National Nurses Week

National Nurses Week was started by the American Nurses Association (ANA). The first officially recognized National Nurses Day, affirmed by a joint resolution of the United States Congress, was on May 6, 1982. In 1993, The ANA Board of Directors designated May 6–12 as permanent dates for National Nurses Week. They chose May 12 to close out the week because it's Florence Nightingale's birthday. The 19^th century British social reformer is considered the founder of modern nursing. 

As the Thrillest article linked earlier points out, “Every day should be Nurse Appreciation Day.” This has never been more true than it is now, with nurses and other healthcare professionals working tirelessly to stop COVID-19 and keep the rest of us safe. This National Nurses Week, we join others in thanking all nurses for all they do each and every day, before, during, and after this pandemic.